GND Media

The world’s attention right now is focused on the desperate situation in Gaza. This human catastrophe has major ramifications for the wider Arab region encompassing North Africa and the Gulf States, an area that is also at the heart of fossil capitalism and thus an important region when it comes to turning the planet away from hydrocarbons and climate catastrophe.  While being the generator of 35% of the all the hydrocarbons in the world, it is also the site of potentially immense green energy.  So how might a just transition take place here? And how do the political and environmental conditions of the region shape this transition?This week Alex is joined by Hamza Hamouchene ( @BenToumert) and Katie Sandwell ( @KatieSandwell) the editors of a new collection of essays called "Dismantling Green Colonialism, Energy and Climate Justice in the Arab Region"Hamza and Katie both work for the Transitional Institute, an international research and advocacy institute committed to building a just, democratic and sustainable planet. They discuss with Alex how Fossil Capitalism is already scooping up land for renewables and carbon offsets in the Arab region, how the World Bank and the IMF along with local elites push the Arab region toward extractive industries instead of focusing on climate adaption. How Green Colonialism has developed in the region and what a Just Transition would look like, that does not put North Africa at the service of Europe. LinksPick up a copy of Hamza and Katie's book from Pluto Press Herehttps://www.plutobooks.com/9780745349213/dismantling-green-colonialism/#:~:text='A%20brave%20and%20timely%20bookShout outsPalestinians in Gaza and the Diaspora Social justice and environmental justice activist in Arab region. Mohad Gasmi: currently in prison in Algeria for criticizing the current government. You can learn more about what has happened to Mohad Herehttps://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/human-rights-defender-sentenced-3-years-prisonSupport the show

For the final episode of this season of Working Class Voices,  it's time to end with some real inspiration. Ad's sits down with Alice Hu (@tweetsbyANH) of New York Communities for Change (@nychange), a working class community action group. Alice explain's how they organised across the issues of immigration, housing and good jobs to be more effect climate activists, How hurricane Sandy's effects on New York City spurned on climate action, and how to run a successful, diverse working class protest. LinksNew York Communities for Change. https://www.nycommunities.org/Here's Ad's article from the start of the series. https://www.gndmedia.co.uk/articles/happy-flowers-dont-winSupport the show

We're on the home stretch of season two of working class voices. This week Ad's is joined by Duncan Exley . Duncan's work helps bring class diversity to institutions and support working class campaigners. They discuss the difference between working class and middle class campaigning, How one posh friend can change your life,  the power of pride and humiliation and how we should be campaigning around a Just Transition. LinksResolution Foundation Duncan's bookThe End of Aspiration : social mobility and our children's fading prospects.https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-end-of-aspirationSupport the show

We all know that the Green New Deal is bold and ambitious in its vision, providing the solutions to the climate crisis that go hand in hand with solutions for social justice – a prosperous future where everyone can thrive.Tune into this recording of our Lucy speaking at a panel event, hosted by Green New Deal Groupon 26 October, exploring further how a Green New Deal gives us reason to hope not only for the climate emergency, but also economic, social and racial justice.Featuring Caroline Lucas, Ellen Fearon of GND Rising and Tyronne Scott of War on Want. Support the show

This week's episode is  about action, community and not waiting for the council to come and sort it for you and how even those with the least can be leaders in the fight against climate breakdown.  Ads is joined by Terry McTernan, Secretary of the Darkwood Crew in Ferguslie Park , Scotland.  Ferguslie Park has consistently been at the bottom of Scottish league tables for economic development and poverty, with decades of Holyrood led initiatives to try and change that and with little luck. Terry and his community decided it was their turn, for the working class to decide how to change their part of the world for the better. Ads and Terry discuss how the Darkwood Crew knits community support and climate action together, how years of top down approaches from government haven't helped Ferguslie Park,  the practical work of running successful community groups and how Ferguislie Park Community Council was formed. LinksFerguslie Community Council Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/fergusliecommunitycouncilDarkwood Crew- Ferguslie community environment group. https://darkwoodcrew.co.uk/Support the show

This week on Working Class Voices Ads' is joined by writer and activist Keir Milburn. Keir is the author of “Generation Left” and is a co-host of ACFM on Novara Media. Keir is also a founding member of the think tank Abundance.They discuss how the definition of who is working class affects organising strategies, are the working class more resilient to police oppression and brutality and has this had an affect on groups like XR? Keir discusses the Spy Cops scandal, Why the working class has to build its own institutions to save the just transition from venture capital, the cycles of social movements and what the left needs to do when Starmer takes power. LinksACFM- Keir's podcast with Nadia Idle and  Jeremy Gilbert https://novaramedia.com/category/audio/acfm/Red Plenty Gameshttps://redplentygames.com/Abundancehttps://www.in-abundance.org/Under cover policing inquiry (Spy Cops inquiry )https://www.ucpi.org.uk/Support the show

Fossil fuels and the companies that extract and distribute them are everywhere. Those companies seep into society from powering our homes, to buying off politicians and owning the sports teams we love. When these levithans take over our passions and interests, what should we do about it? This week on Working Class Voices Ads is joined by Michael  from Game Changer, the campaign to get football clubs to drop fossil fuel sponsorships. They discuss Micheal's journey from watching documentaries to organising football fans against fossil fuel companies, How those oil companies capture culture, and the challenges of bringing football fans into the climate movement. LinksThe Big Step: Campaign against advertising gambling in sports Calling Time Scotland : The campiagn to kick out alcohol advertising in sports. Game ChangerGet in contact with the Game Changer campaign below. gamechanger@platformlondon.orgSupport the show

This week we are organising for power, in more ways than one.Andrew is joined by Lawrence Wang (@ltothewang), a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (@DemSocialists), and on the Eco-socialist working group  for the New York City Chapter (@Nycdsa). Lawrence explains how the DSA in New York State organised and passed a bill that means the state has to develop publicly owned renewable energy generation. We discuss the DSA's mission and how it approaches politics in the USA, the tactics and strategy that got their legalisation passed and how they ended up running AGAINST one of the sponsors of the bill they were pushing through the congress!Cheat sheet for the episodeDSA: Democratic Socialist of AmericaBPRA : Build Public Renewables ActNYA : New York Power AuthorityIRA: Inflation Reduction ActLinksDemocratic Socialists of AmericaDSA New York ChapterNYC DSA Eco-socialistsLawrence's recent article in Jacobin about the BPRAhttps://jacobin.com/2023/07/new-york-bpra-green-new-deal-public-renewable-energyShout OutsStop Cop CityPine Tree Power Our Power coalition Maine DSASupport the show

This week Ads is joined by Fraser Stewart. Fraser is the just transition lead at Regen, a non for profit focused on pushing the UK towards cleaner energy.  They discuss how weirdly similar their lives have been as working class lads in the environment movement,  how the working class manage in middle class spaces, what are the best ways to talk about climate to people who are already struggling and how starting with reality is better than rhetoric. LinksFrasers' article "New Tools" https://fraserjfstewart-17.medium.com/new-tools-29028eacf86aSupport the show

If you were to wander lonely as a cloud in England, chances are that you would find yourself on privately owned lands and committing a civil offence. if you were to do the same in Scotland however, you would be totally within your right to do so.  So what gives? Why don't the English have access to the nature and countryside of God's green earth?‍This week we are joined by land access campaigner  and orgnaniser at Right to Roam, Jon Moses. Ads and Jon discuss the history of land being taken into private ownership, the difference between land access rights in England and Scotland, what actually might happen if you illegally trespass (spoiler not as much as you might think!) and Jon updates us on the access rights saga of Dartmoor national park. LINKSRight to Roam campaign website Shout out Daniel Grimstom, and congrats on the your play Corpse light. Support the show